Steering-gear.



J. P. LAVIGNE.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION mu) JUNE I. 1915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. P. LAVIGNE.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICAHON mm) mm 1, I915.

PatentPd June 6, 191g,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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I n W lm/ Memes UNITED STATES FFIG JOSEPH P. LAVIGNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO UNITEi) STATES NOVELTY MFG. CO., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

' STEERING-GEAR.

To all whom it may'concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. LAVIGNE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gear, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the operation of steering mechanisms for automobiles it is desirable not only to have quick positive acting means for transmitting the desired movement to the steering arm or knuckle, but it is also advisable to obtain this result with a minimum of end thrust upon the parts and with as few opcrating connections as possible in order to avoid liability to derangement.

his invention relates to a steering mechanism for automobiles and the like and to an arrangement thereof whereby the thrust against the steering post is" balanced thereby avoiding the necessity of end thrust bearings, While the parts are so disposed and arranged as to form a positive lock against the movement of the steering wheel shaft from the backward thrust of the guide bearing Wheels of the vehicle.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, y broken away and in section, of a mechanism that embodies features of the invent on; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, paraway and in section, of the mechanism; Fig. 3 1s a view of the mechanism, partially in end elevation and partially in transverse sect10n, showing also a steering arm connection; and Fig. 4 is a view in section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

s herein shown in preferred naled lightness has a pair of oppositely threaded enlarged portions 3 and- 4.

bushing 5 that. is screwthreaded to reciprocate on the section 3 has a pair of op positely disposed lugs 6 whose proximate faces 7 form guides in which a block 8 is reciprocable transversely to the shaft 1. The bushing 5 is split and is provided with a 1 take up screw 9 passing through lugs 10 on either side of the kerf of the bushing wherebe made to operate on the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 1, 1915.

Patented June 6, 1916. Serial No. 81,403.

s'crewthreaded section 3 without appreciable a thrust block 15 that is in alinement to the block 8. on either side of'a kerf in the bushing, per-' forms a similar function to the bolt 9 of the bushing 5 in affording means for preventing back lash.-

A suitably mounted spindle 18 journaled in the casing 2 transversely to the shaft 1, has oppositely extending arms 19 and 20 with pins 21 and 22 extending therefrom and turning in bearing openings in the blocks 8 and 15 respectively. .A steering arm 23 on the spindle 18 affords means for transmitting power from the spindle to turn the guide bearing wheels of a vehicle to any desired angle. Preferably the arm is adjustably secured to the spindle by means of a engagement of the parts.

n operation rotation of the shaft forces the oppositely disposed bushings from or toward each other thereby turning the spindle through the connecting slide blocks and studsin the desireddirection. Because of the floating of the bushings on the shaft there is no necessity of a thrust bearing for the latter or for the other parts of the mechshaft in desired position longitudinally. When once assembled the mechanism operates without more than ordinary attention and is readily accessible for inspection and ion oppos tely 'screwthreaded portions on the 116 main shaft symmetrically disposed in relation to the spindle axis, a bushing screwthreaded on each enlarged portion, and pro vided with guideways transverse to the main shaft, oppositely disposed arms on the spindle, thrust blocks each journaled on an arm to reciprocate in the guideways of a bushing, and a steering 2. In a steering mechanism for auto1nobiles and the like, a main casing, a wheel shaft journaled in the casing, a spindle journaled in the casing arm socketed on and secured to theend portion of the spindle.

pins and reciprro l le in the guides, the spin dle having a pro ecting tapered and longi tudinally fluted end portion, a steering arm having a tapered socket adapted to adjust-- ably engage on the fluted portion of the spindle, and a holding nut for forcing the socketed portion of the arm on to the tapered portion of the spindle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

= JOSEPH P. LAVIGNE.

lVitnesses:

ANNA.M. Donn, C. R. STICKNEY.

blocks journaled on the v 

